Mina Forsyth facts for kids

Mina Forsyth (born September 20, 1921, in Estevan, Saskatchewan – died 1987, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) was a talented Canadian artist. She is famous for her unique paintings, which often show landscapes, people, and everyday objects. Her art style is called expressionism and abstract art. This means she used strong colors and shapes to show feelings and ideas, rather than just painting things exactly as they look.

Mina Forsyth's Education

Mina Forsyth loved to learn and study art. In 1955, she earned a special degree called a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Manitoba. She continued her studies and received a Master's degree from Michigan State University in 1957. While at Michigan State, she learned from a well-known artist named Abraham Rattner. Mina also attended the famous Emma Lake Artists' Workshops several times, in 1955, 1965, 1966, and 1967. These workshops were important places for artists to learn and share ideas.

Mina Forsyth's Art Career

Mina Forsyth spent many years developing her art. From the 1950s to the 1980s, she went to many workshops at the Emma Lake Artist's Workshops in Murray Point, Saskatchewan. There, she studied with many famous artists like Jack Shadbolt and Frank Stella. She also attended art programs at the Banff Centre for the Arts and the Gimli Summer School.

In 1977, Mina Forsyth was invited to be a special guest artist at an Emma Lake workshop. She also worked as an art teacher at the University of Saskatchewan. She taught many students until she retired in 1985. After she passed away, Mina Forsyth received a special Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991 from the Saskatchewan Arts Board. This award recognized her amazing contributions to art.

Mina Forsyth's Art Shows

Mina Forsyth's artwork was shown in many places. Here are some of the important art shows where her paintings were displayed:

Group Art Exhibitions

These are shows where her art was displayed alongside other artists' work.

• 1949 – Banff Travelling Exhibit in Banff, Alberta.
• 1949 – Young Contemporaries at Hudson's Bay Company in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
• 1967 – Saskatchewan Centennial Exhibition in Regina, Saskatchewan.
• 1972 – Drawings by Eight Painters at the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
• 1974 – Contemporary Saskatchewan Paintings & Sculpture in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

Solo Art Exhibitions

These were shows where only Mina Forsyth's art was featured.

• 1957 – Graduate Exhibition at Michigan State University.
• 1968 – Marquis Gallery at the University of Saskatchewan.
• 1975 – Shoestring Gallery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
• 1977 – Frances Morrison Library Gallery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
• 1981 – Six Tenant Farmers and Other Works at Gallery One in Saskatoon, SK.
• 1985 – Mina Forsyth: Flowers and Heads at the Mendel Art Gallery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Awards and Recognition

Mina Forsyth received several awards for her artistic talent:

• 1954 – Winnipeg Show Student Prize from the University of Manitoba.
• 1955 – Saskatchewan Jubilee Prize for Painting from the Government of Saskatchewan.
• 1965 – Second Prize in the Saskatchewan and Canadian Centennial Poetry Competition.

Sources

• "Mina Mabel Forsyth" Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
• "Forsyth, Mina Mabel" Canadian Women Artists. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
• "Mina Forsyth fonds" SAIN Collections. Retrieved 2016-02-26.